“I had to check it was April 1st. I didn’t really believe it at first,” said a broken Doncic. The last 48 hours in the NBA have been a lesson for the whole world. Don’t ever have the illusion of being irreplaceable, be that in a relationship or a job. If the Mavericks can trade Luka Dončić, then no player is safe. That’s the emotion echoing through the NBA arenas since the blockbuster trade happened. But many now say the writing was on the wall for a long time. It was only poor fans and Doncic who didn’t read between the lines.

As shocked reactions from across the league still flooded in, the common feeling was constant. Just like Anthony Edwards, many have questioned whether there was something more than what met the eye. A recent revelation has exposed some more information that led to the trade to the Lakers.

According to Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon, the Mavs were growing increasingly frustrated with Luka Doncic’s lack of conditioning. That even led to the firing of the director of player health and performance, Casey Smith, strength coach, Jeremy Holsopple, and manual therapist Casey Spangler. The thing common between them? Their relationship with Luka Doncic. The franchise has had the trio since before it drafted the Slovenian. Need no digging, they surely had a close relationship with Doncic.

That somehow affected Doncic’s conditioning, as a team source vented last season over the weight gain. “I mean who gains weight during the season when you’re playing 40 minutes a game?” the source said. Even HC Jason Kidd grew upset about Doncic’s weight irregularities.

But no one expected the Mavs would eventually pull the trigger with the trade. Yes, Anthony Davis is an All-Star caliber player, but he’s not Dallas’ loved Don. The shock of the move took over the city and GM Nico Harrison is the public enemy number one. Harrison might be focusing on the culture he wants to build, but the fan emotion is stronger than any culture in the world. Fan protests rage throughout Dallas, proving the community’s disapproval of the latest trade.

Dallas Nation protests against Luka Doncic’s trade

Luka Doncic’s sudden departure from the Dallas Mavericks didn’t sit well with the fans who voiced against the franchise in their own ways. Over 700K followers unfollowed the team’s official Instagram page. In just one day, the number dropped from 5.3 million to 4.6 million. The Mavs did not exactly welcome Anthony Davis with open arms; instead, fans and analysts labeled the move a “nightmare.”

Supporters even gathered outside the American Airlines Center, holding placards to show their disapproval of the trade. Some of the popular signs were “Nico (Harrison) is Corrupt!!!” and “Luka, Take us with you!” And probably they even turned into Lakers fans from that moment. “SELL THE TEAM!” was another chant that was loud and clear. The most attention-grabbing moment came when a few fans brought a coffin to the arena, showing how upset they were about Doncic’s exit.

But there’s no changing things now. What’s done is done, and there’s no turning back. This highlights how in just seven years, Doncic built a massive and loyal fanbase that admired him deeply. The 25-year-old also shared a heartfelt message for his fans and the organization, reflecting on the memories he’s made in Dallas and bidding them a final goodbye for now.